Implementation of smart cities, the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given way to the rise of some smart cities in Karnataka that includes Tumkur. On August 28, 2015 the Central government declared the list of 98 cities and towns that would emerge into smart cities. The 6 cities from Karnataka like Tumkur Belagavi; Davangere; Hubli-Dharwad; Mangalore, and Shimoga have made it to this elite list.
Tumkur as a development hub
Located 60 kms from Bangalore, Tumkur is well connected to Bangalore City by railways and roadways and has good supply of water and land for further development. The city already being an educational hub, there are industrial developments happening in and around the city. By emerging as a smart city and with the development of infrastructure, emergence of new tech parks may also take place in the district. With this kind of development, graduates in the district will get good job opportunities and need not drift to Bangalore for jobs.
A comprehensive plan by the palike
Under this project, the palike should come up with a clear and complete plan for the development of the city and should take some stern determination to organize fund to develop Tumkur as Smart City. Some of the suggested ideas in the plan are:
- Some services of the Palike should be made Online
- 10 per cent of power should be utilised through solar energy
- Focusing on rainwater harvesting
- Recycling of rainwater and sewage water
- Smart parking facility
- Set-up for vehicle-free zones
- Laying power lines underground
- Green belts in the residential areas, parks, and playgrounds etc.
A two-day conference on the smart city is to be held in Bangalore starting September 2 and will be attended by the mayor, her deputy and standing committee presidents. The Center would establish an Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under Companies Act 2013 and the authorise the company to execute the plan. The CEO of the SPV will be authorised to sanction funds, execution, estimation, supervision among others.
Tumkur, the shadow city of Bangalore is expected to see a fast-paced growth and the center would provide 50 percent of the grant from 1000 crores for the consolidated and comprehensive development of city.
